Cyclist reports seeing Rory outside school

Police investigating the murder of West Lothian schoolboy Rory Blackhall have revealed that they may have received their first possible sighting of the boy outside the school.

A man was cycling close to Rory’s school, Meldrum Primary in Livingston, West Lothian, last Thursday morning around 08:40 BST. He told police that he noticed a boy walking on the same side of the road and thought it was ‘odd’, because the boy was walking away from the direction of the school.

Police said that the boy fitted Rory’s description and was possibly carrying a rucksack.

Rory, 11, disappeared after his mother dropped him off close to Meldrum Primary School around 08:30 BST last Thursday. His body was discovered, covered by an old tent, in nearby woodland on Sunday afternoon. He had died from asphyxiation.

Police are also trying to trace a blonde woman, spotted standing at a bus stop by the cyclist. The cyclist said that the woman, described as having long blonde hair and wearing denim, did not board a double-decker bus that stopped and he thought that was strange.

Detective Inspector Tom Martin of Lothian and Borders Police, said: “While the informant is not 100% certain that the boy he saw was Rory, this is the first possible sighting we have of him.

“What is vitally important is that we trace the blonde woman waiting at the bus stop as she should have noticed the boy walking past her as well if he had carried on his route.

“We would appeal to that woman or anyone who may know who she is to contact us.”

Further forensic tests are being carried out to try and determine if Rory was smothered or strangled.

Police are also trying to locate his schoolbag, which is missing. The bag is described as a navy blue Puma rucksack, which contained a number of items including a white plastic sandwich box, schoolbooks, a clear plastic folder and a camouflage pencil case.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on: 01506 445650.

A dedicated email address has also been set up for the public to pass on any information they may have to the police to Roryblackhallenquiry

(KMcA/SP)